National  Board 

of  The  Young  Women’s  Christian  Associations 
of  the  United  States  of  America 
541  Lexington  Avenue, 

New  York  City. 


Incorporated  June  6,  1907. 


AN  ACT 

To  Incorporate  The  National  Board  of  The  Young  Women’s 
Christian  Associations  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate 
and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows : 

Section  1. 

Elizabeth  S.  Allen,  Mary  Dabney  Baker,  Mary  M.  Billings,  Eliza- 
beth D.  Boies,  Louisa  K.  Boulton,  Marie  H.  Broadwell,  Elizabeth  M.  M. 

Campbell,  Vera  Scott  Cushman,  Maude  Daeniker, 
Charter  Grace  H.  'Dodge,  Mary  A.  Dorman,  Martha  A.  Dur- 
kee,  Effie  K.  Gladding,  Helen  M.  Gould,  Emily  W. 
Green,  Emily  P.  Jenkinson,  Harriet  Judson,  Elizabeth  G.  Messer,  Leila 
W.  Mott,  Elizabeth  R.  McConaughy,  Janet  McCook,  Katharine  S.  J.  Rew, 
Annie  M.  Reynolds,  Anna  L.  Richardson,  Helen  H.  Rossiter,  Mary  S. 
Slocum,  Alice  M.  Smith,  Emma  B.  Speer,  Minerva  Ella  Vincent  and 
Margaret  A.  Wilson,  and  their  associates  and  successors  are  hereby  created 
and  constituted  a body  corporate  and  politic  by  the  name  of  the  National 
Board  of  The  Young  Women’s  Christian  Associations  of  the  United  States 
of  America;  and  by  that  name  shall  have  perpetual  succession. 


I 


Section  2. 

The  purpose  of  the  said  Corporation  shall  be  to  advance  the  physi- 
cal, social,  intellectual,  moral  and  spiritual  interest  of 
Charter  young  women  in  accordance  with  the  aims  and 
methods  of  the  Young  Women’s  Christian  Associa- 
tions, and  to  establish,  unite  and  develop  Young  Women’s  Christian 
Associations. 

Section  3. 

The  affairs  of  said  Corporation  shall  be  managed  by  a board  of 
not  less  than  thirty  women,  each  of  whom  shall  be  a member  of  a Protestant 
Evangelical  Church  to  be  known  as  the  National  Board,  to  be  elected  by  the 
convention  of  The  Young  Women’s  Christian  Associations  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  except  that  the  individuals  named  in  the  first  section  of 
this  act,  having  been  elected  by  such  a convention,  shall  constitute  the  first 
Board;  the  members  of  said  first  Board  shall  serve  respectively  for  the 
periods  which  they  shall  designate  by  lot  and  until  their  successors  are 
elected;  at  the  next  biennial  convention  of  The  Young  Women’s  Christian 
Associations  of  the  United  States  of  America,  after  this  act  takes  effect,  mem- 
bers of  the  National  Board  shall  be  elected  by  said  convention  to  fill  the  va- 
cancies caused  by  the  expiration  of  the  terms  of  office  of  said  members;  and 
thereafter,  one-third  of  said  members  shall  go  out  of  office  and  one-third  be 
elected  for  a term  of  six  years  at  each  biennial  convention  of  said  Young 
Women’s  Christian  Associations  of  the  United  States  of  America;  if  any 
vacancies  occur  during  the  interim  of  said  conventions,  the  vacancies  shall 
be  filled  by  a majority  vote  of  the  remaining  members  of  said  Board.  The 
number  of  women  who  shall  constitute  said  Board  may  be  increased  by 
said  convention,  but  by  not  more  than  ten  at  any  one  convention.  No  mem- 
ber of  said  Board  shall  receive  any  pecuniary  compensation  for  her  services. 

Section  4. 

Said  Corporation  shall  possess  the  general  powers,  rights  and  privi- 
leges and  be  subject  to  the  general  restrictions  and  liabilities  prescribed  in 
and  by  the  general  corporation  law  of  the  state  of  New  York,  known  as 
chapter  five  hundred  and  sixty-three  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred 
and  ninety,  and  the  amendments  thereto,  so  far  as  the  same  are  applicable. 

Section  5. 

The  principal  office  of  said  Corporation,  its  books,  records  and 
papers,  shall  be  kept  in  the  city  of  New  York. 


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Section  6. 

The  said  Corporation  shall  be  in  law  capable  of  taking,  receiving 
and  holding  absolutely  and  in  trust  for  its  general  uses  and  purposes,  and 
for  any  particular  department  of  its  work,  and  for  any  particular  Young 
Women’s  Christian  Association,  by  gift,  devise,  bequest,  grant  or  purchase, 
real  and  personal  property,  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
herein  provided  for,  of  letting,  leasing  and  conveying  the  same,  and  shall 
also  have  the  power,  with  the  like  consent,  to  issue  bonds,  and  shall  secure 
the  same  by  mortgages  upon  its  real  estate  and  its 
Charter  improvements;  the  consent  of  the  said  trustees  to  be 
evidenced  by  affixing  their  seal  to  the  instruments  of 
conveyances  and  bonds  and  mortgages,  and  causing  the  same  to  be  signed 
by  their  president  and  treasurer,  in  pursuance  of  a resolution  of  their 
Board  to  that  effect.  The  real  estate  of  this  Corporation  shall  not  be 
liable  for  any  debt  or  obligation  of  the  Corporation,  unless  the  same  shall 
have  been  contracted  with  approval  of  the  said  Board  of  Trustees. 
All  devises  and  bequests,  however,  to  this  Corporation  shall  be  subject 
to  the  provision  of  chapter  three  hundred  and  sixty  of  the  laws  of  eignteen 
hundred  and  sixty,  entitled  “An  act  relating  to  wills,’’  and  the  amend- 
ments thereto. 

Section  7. 

The  said  Corporation  shall  have  the  power  to  make  and  adopt 
by-laws  and  regulations  not  inconsistent  with  this  act  or  with  the  laws 
of  this  State,  for  the  government  of  its  business,  the  management  of  its 
affairs,  the  choice,  powers  and  duties  of  its  officers  and  agents,  and  from 
time  to  time  to  repeal  or  alter  such  by-laws,  rules  and  regulations. 

Section  8. 

All  the  real  property  which  shall  be  given  to  or  acquired  by  this 
Corporation,  and  all  gifts  and  bequests,  and  all  moneys  to  be  held  in  trust 
by  it,  shall  be  held  and  managed  by  a board  of  trustees,  not  less  than  nine 
in  number,  at  least  five  of  whom  shall  be  men.  The  first  Board  of  Trustees 
shall  be  appointed  by  the  National  Board  as  soon  after  this  act  takes  effect 
as  convenient,  and  thereafter  vacancies  in  said  Board  shall  be  filled  by  a 
vote  of  the  said  trustees  upon  nomination  by  the  National  Board.  The  first 
trustees  shall  be  appointed  in  classes  of  three  each,  for  terms  of  two,  four 
and  six  years.  After  the  first  two  years  election  shall  be  for  six  years. 
The  income,  which  said  Board  of  Trustees  shall  receive  from  the  property 


3 


Charter 


under  its  management,  and  the  said  property  shall  be 
devoted  to  the  purposes  of  this  Corporation  and  for 
no  other  purpose.  None  of  said  trustees  shall  receive 
any  pecuniary  compensation  for  his  or  her  services  as  such  trustee. 

Section  9. 

This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately,  fjune  6th,  1907,  chapter 
422  of  the  laws  of  1907.) 


BY  LAWS 


Section  1. 

By-Laws 


ARTICLE  I. 

Officers  of  the  National  Board. 

The  officers  of  the  Board  shall  be  a president,  two  vice- 
presidents,  a recording  secretary  and  a treasurer. 


Section  2. 

They  shall  be  elected  annually  by  ballot  by  a majority  vote  of  the 
members  present  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  and  shall  serve  until 
their  successors  have  been  chosen. 


Section  3. 

The  Executive  Committee  shall  be  composed  of  the  officers  of 
the  the  Board,  and  the  chairmen  of  the  Home  and  Foreign  Departments. 

Section  4. 

The  President  of  the  Board  shall  preside  at  meetings  of  the 
Board;  shall  appoint  the  chairmen  of  all  standing  committees,  and,  in 
consultation  with  the  chairmen,  the  other  members  of  the  committees; 
shall  be  ex-officio  a member  of  all  standing  and  special  committees;  shall 
prepare  and  submit  to  the  Board  for  its  consideration  the  report  of  the 
Board  to  the  biennial  convention;  and  shall  perform  all  other  duties 
which  usually  pertain  to  such  office. 

Section  5. 

Vice-presidents.  There  shall  be  a first  vice-president  and  a 
second  vice-president  who  shall  perform  the  duties  of  the  President  in  case 
she  is  absent  or  unable  to  act. 


4 


Section  6. 

Treasurer.  The  Treasurer  shall  receive  all  moneys  paid  to  the 
Board,  and  shall  deposit  the  same  in  the  name  of  the  Board  in  a bank 
or  trust  company  designated  by  a vote  of  the  Board.  Bills  shall  be 
paid  by  the  Treasurer  according  to  the  budget  when  signed  by  the  Execu- 
tive Secretary  or  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  de- 
partment which  incurred  the  expense.  The  budget  accounts  of  the  Home 
and  Foreign  Departments  shall  be  kept  distinct.  The 

By=Laws  lial  ilities  of  either  the  Home  or  the  Foreign  Depart- 
ment shall  not  be  a liability  of  the  other  department. 
She  shall  keep  an  account  of  all  receipts  and  expenditures,  and  shall 
submit  the  same,  together  with  all  vouchers,  etc.;  to  the  auditor  at  the 
close  of  each  fiscal  year,  for  examination  and  audit.  She  shall  submit  to 
the  regular  meetings  of  the  Board  a statement  of  the  conditions  of  the 
finances  of  bot!i  departments  of  the  Board.  She  shall  be  ex-officio  a 
member  of  the  Finance  Committee  of  both  Home  and  Foreign  Departments. 

Section  7. 

Recording  Secretary.  The  Recording  Secretary  shall  keep  min- 
utes of  the  meetings  of  the  Board;  shall  transcribe  the  same  in  minute- 
book;  shall  send  copies  to  all  members  of  the  Board  and  shall  file  copies 
with  the  Home  and  Foreign  Departments. 

Section  8 

Employed  Officers: 

I.  There  shall  be  such  salaried  secretaries,  agents  and  clerical  work- 
ers as  the  Board  may  from  time  to  time  decide  upon.  They  shall  receive 
such  compensation  for  their  services  as  shall  be  fixed  by  a vote  of  the 
Board  on  recommendation  of  the  respective  sub-committees,  and  shall  re- 
tain their  positions  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Board. 

2 The  chief  executive  officers  of  the  Board  shall  be  the  two  execu- 
tive secretaries  of  the  Home  and  Foreign  Departments  respectively.  They 
shall  have  general  secretarial  oversight  of  the  work  of  their  respective 
departments.  The}’  shall  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Board  and  also  of  the 
various  committees  in  their  departments.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  see  that 
all  the  instructions,  recommendations,  and  directions  of  the  Board  and  of  the 
standing  committees  are  carried  out.  They  shall  have  special  supervision 
of  the  force  employed  in  their  respective  departments  at  the  general  office. 
They  shall  be  subject  to  the  supervision  of  the  Executive  Committee. 


5 


3 Every  salaried  secretary  or  agent  shall  be  placed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  some  one  of  the  standing  committees.  Incases  where  the  interests 

of  two  or  more  departments  are  involved:  e.  g.,  a 
By  Laws  general  conference,  the  standing  committee  of  such 
departments  shall  agree  upon  the  policy  to  be 
carried  out  by  the  secretary. 

4 A vacation  of  not  less  than  one  month  shall  be  allowed  to  each 
executive,  office  and  traveling  secretary  during  the  year. 

ARTICLE  II 

Meetings  of  the  National  Board. 

Section  1. 

Regular  meetings  of  the  National  Board  shall  be  held  on  the  first 
Wednesday  of  October,  December,  February,  April  and  June.  The  Decem- 
ber meeting  shall  be  known  as  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Board. 

Section  2. 

Special  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  President  or  at  the  written 
request  of  five  members  of  the  Board.  Only  such  business  shall  be  trans- 
acted in  special  meetings  as  shall  be  indicated  in  the  notice  sent  to  the 
members. 

Section  3. 

Quorum.  Nine  members  shall  constitute  a quorum  for  the  trans- 
action of  business. 

Section  4. 

Order  of  Business.  All  meetings  shall  be  opened  with  devotional 
exercises,  and  the  order  of  business  shall  be  reading  of  minutes;  treasurer’s 
report;  report  of  committees  of  Home  Department;  report  of  committees 
of  Foreign  Department;  reports  of  executive  secretaries;  unfinished  busi- 
ness; miscellaneous  business. 

Section  5. 

Notice  of  all  meetings  shall  be  sent  to  the  members  of  the  Board 
at  least  one  week  prior  to  the  date  of  meeting. 

Section  6. 

A special  conference  of  the  members  of  the  National  Board  and 
all  its  secretaries  shall  be  held  once  each  year,  lasting  from  one  to  three 
days,  at  which  the  work  of  each  department  for  the  preceding  year  shall  be 
reviewed  and  plans  outlined  for  the  coming  year. 


6 


Section  7. 

Minutes  of  each  regular  and  special  meeting  shall  be  preserved, 
and  copies  sent  to  all  members  of  the  Board. 

By-Laws  ARTICLE  III 

Committees  of  the  National  Board. 

Section  1. 

The  president  of  the  Board,  soon  after  her  election,  shall  appoint 
the  chairmen  of  the  following  standing  committees,  and  in  consultation 
with  the  chairmen  the  other  members  of  the  committees.  They  shall  serve 
during  her  term  of  office: 

1 In  the  Home  Department: 

(a)  City  Committee, 

(b)  Student  Committee, 

(c)  Finance  Committee, 

(d)  Publication  Committee, 

(e)  Committee  on  Selection  and  Training  of  Secretaries. 

2 In  the  Foreign  Department: 

a.  Committee  on  Finance  and  Development  of  Missionary  Interest. 

b.  Committee  on  Supervision  of  Work  on  the  Foreign  Field. 
Section  2. 

Each  standing  committee  shall  hold  meetings  monthly  as  may  be 
necessary,  except  during  the  summer  recess,  or  at  the  call  of  its  chairman. 
Section  3. 

Each  standing  committee  shall  keep  a minute  book  of  its  pro- 
ceedings and  an  outline  of  such  minutes  shall  be  read  as  its  report  at  the 
regular  meeting  of  the  Board. 

Section  4. 

The  chairman  of  each  standing  committee  shall  be  the  representa- 
tive of  said  committee  in  directing  its  work  and  the  secretaries  under  its 
charge.  She  shall  present  in  writing  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board 
a report  of  the  work  done  by  her  committee. 

Section  5. 

The  general  duties  of  the  various  standing  committees  are  as 

follows: 

I.  In  the  Home  Department: 


7 


a.  The  City  Committee  shall  co-operate  with  state  or  territorial 
committees  in  the  organizing,  developing  and  extending  the  influence  of 

the  associations  in  the  cities  of  the  United  States.  It 
By-Laws  shall  constitute  also  a bureau  of  information  regarding 
city  work. 

b.  The  Student  Committee  shall  seek  to  develop  efficient  student 
departments  of  state  and  territorial  committees,  and  shall  cooperate  with 
these  committees  in  organizing,  developing  and  extending  the  influence 
of  associations  in  universities,  colleges  and  schools.  It  shall  also  coop- 
erate with  the  Student  Volunteer  Movement,  and  the  World’s  Student 
Christian  Federation. 

c.  The  Finance  Committee  shall  devise  and  carry  into  execu- 
tion plans  for  the  securing  of  the  money  necessary  for  the  prosecution  of 
the  work  of  the  Home  Department  of  the  National  Board.  Its  plans  shall 
be  made  and  carried  out  in  consultation  with  the  Finance  Committee  of 
the  Foreign  Department.  It  shall  submit  at  the  December  meeting  of  the 
Board  each  year  a carefully  prepared  budget  containing  an  itemized  state- 
ment of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  fiscal  year  just  closing,  and 
a similar  statement  of  the  probable  income  and  expenses  for  the  coming 
year.  This  budget  in  detail  shall  be  prepared  by  the  Finance  Committee 
in  consultation  with  the  chairman  of  the  standing  committees  of  the 
department  and  presented  to  the  Executive  Committee  for  approval  before 
presentation  to  the  National  Board.  After  the  budget  has  been  adopted 
no  expense  shall  be  made  in  excess  of  any  item  of  the  budget  without 
previous  authority  given  at  a meeting  of  the  Board. 

d.  The  Publication  Committee  shall  have  general  supervision 
and  direction  of  the  national  organ.  All  proposed  publications  shall  be 
submitted  to  this  committee. 

e.  The  Committee  on  Secetarial  Supply  and  Training  shall  have 
charge  of  the  plans  of  the  Board  for  the  discovery,  enlisting,  training  and 
locating  of  secretaries. 

2 In  the  Foreign  Department. 

a.  The  Committee  on  Finance  and  Development  of  Missionary 
Interest  shall  devise  and  carry  into  execution  plans  for  the  securing  of 
money  necessary  for  the  prosecution  of  the  work  of  the  Foreign  Department 
of  the  National  Board.  Its  plans  shall  be  made  and  carried  out  in  consul- 
tation with  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  Home  Department.  It  shall  sub- 
mit at  the  December  meeting  of  the  Board  each  year  a carefully  prepared 


8 


budget,  containing  an  itemized  statement  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures 
of  the  fiscal  year  just  closing,  and  a similar  statement  of  the  probable  in- 
come and  expenses  of  the  coming  year.  This  budget  in  detail  shall  be 
prepared  by  the  Finance  Committee  in  consultation 
By-Laws  with  the  chairmen  of  standing  committees  of  the 
department,  and  presented  to  the  Executive  Committee 
for  approval  before  presentation  to  the  National  Board.  After  the  budget 
has  been  adopted  it  shall  be  the  guide  in  the  approval  of  all  bills.  The 
Committee  shall  seek  to  cultivate  the  missionary  interest  in  the  home 
associations. 

b.  The  Committee  on  Supervision  of  Work  on  the  Foreign  Field 
shall  select,  instruct,  and  supervise  such  secretaries  as  are  appointed  by  the 
National  Board  to  work  on  the  foreign  field,  and  in  cooperation  with  the 
National  Committee  on  the  foreign  field  shall  have  general  supervision 
of  the  extension  and  development  of  association  work  in  the  lands  to  which 
these  secretaries  are  sent. 

Section  6. 

Special  committees  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  from  time 
to  time  as  the  exigencies  of  the  work  may  require  and  the  Board  may 
authorize. 

Section  7. 

Matters  of  general  policy  and  those  involving  relationships  of  com- 
mittees shall  be  acted  upon  by  the  Board  as  a whole,  and  not  by  any  one 
department  or  committee. 


ARTICLE  IV. 

Amendments. 

Section  1. 

These  by-laws  may  be  amended  at  any  regular  meeting  of  the 
Board,  provided  the  notice  of  amendment  shall  have  been  given  at  the 
previous  regular  meeting  and  provided  further  that  said  amendment 
receives  an  afl&rmative  vote  of  three-fourths  of  the  members  present. 

Section  2. 

Any  section  of  these  by-laws  may  be  suspended  for  a single  meet- 
ing by  unanimous  consent  of  the  members  present  at  such  meeting. 


9 


FUNCTIONS 


Pending  the  action  of  the  Convention  the  following  functions  are 

defined. 

Section  1. 

The  Board  is  authorized  to  represent  the  Young  Women’s  Chris- 
Functions  tian  Associations  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
and  to  act  as  the  intermediary  between  them. 

Section  2. 

It  is  authorized  to  carry  out  the  instructions  of  the  associations 
as  expressed  in  the  biennial  conventions,  to  meet  special  emergencies  and 
opportunities  which  present  themselves  between  conventions,  and  in 
general  to  promote  the  purposes  of  the  association  movement  in  accord- 
ance with  the  deliverances  of  the  conventions. 

Section  3. 

It  is  authorized  to  exercise  a general  advisory  relation  as  to  the 
associations  and  to  foster  and  further  means  for  the  extension  of  the  asso- 
ciation movement  throughout  the  country  and  in  foreign  lands. 

Section  4. 

It  is  authorized  to  employ  and  direct  such  secretaries,  agents  and 
other  employes  as  the  exigencies  of  the  work  may  demand  and  the  funds 
placed  at  its  disposal  may  warrant. 

Section  5. 

It  shall  isue  the  call,  frame  the  program,  and  work  up  the  attend- 
ance of  each  biennial  convention.  It  shall,  prior  to  each  convention, 
appoint  the  following  committees:  Nominating  Committee,  Business  Com- 
mittee, Committee  on  Report  of  National  Board,  Committee  on  Credentials. 

Section  6. 

It  shall  conduct  such  special  conferences  and  institutes  as  may 
seem  best  in  the  interest  of  the  association. 

Section  7. 

It  shall  make  provision  for  enlisting  and  training  secretaries  for 
the  associations  by  such  means  as  experience  proves  to  be  most  useful. 
Section  8 

It  shall  issue  such  publications  as  it  may  deem  helpful  to  the  work. 

lO 


Section  9. 


It  shall  collect  from  time  to  time  such  statistical  and 
Functions  other  information  from  the  associations  as  may  seem 
desirable. 

Section  10 

The  Board  shall  preserve  files  of  important  correspondence  and 
keep  copies  of  all  documents,  circulars,  resolutions  and  other  records  per- 
taining to  the  movement,  and  shall  preserve  them  at  its  central  ofiice  as 
the  property  of  the  Board.  It  shall  also  keep  on  file  at  the  ofl&ce,  minutes 
of  all  its  proceedings. 

Section  11. 

It  is  empowered  to  secure  and  administer  such  funds  as  may  be 
needed  to  carry  out  the  purposes  of  the  Board.  It  shall  each  year  appoint 
an  auditor,  or  auditing  committee  to  audit  the  accounts  of  the  Treasurer. 
Section  12. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  biennial  convention  the  Board  shall  submit 
thereto  a report  of  its  work  and  of  the  general  condition  of  the  association 
movement  throughout  the  field,  and  recommendations  for  the  future;  also 
a report  of  the  Treasurer,  properly  audited.  The  Board  shall  meet  before 
the  opening  of  the  convention  for  the  final  revision  of  its  report  and  for 
such  other  business  as  may  properly  come  before  it. 

Section  13. 

The  National  Board  shall  recommend  the  required  number  of  rep- 
resentative upon  the  Worlds  Executive  Committee. 

Section  14. 

N one  of  these  conditions  are  to  be  considered  as  conferring  on  the 
National  Board  any  legislative  power,  or  any  right  to  interfere  in  the 
affairs  of  the  local  associations. 


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